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Short Stories on Instagram

"..like ships passing in the night." I use the ph

"..like ships passing in the night."

I use the phrase a lot, but in the last few years it has evolved to carry a lot more weight and relevance to me. After standing countless nights on solo watches, passing these fascinating beauties is both exhilarating and paradoxical.

The moment you see her lights on the horizon, the brain kicks in. Often at first, all the lights blur to form 1 big shiny dot in the distance. As the vessel draws nearer (and the risk & danger grow greater) the lights finally begin to separate and tell you an encyclopedia's worth of information. Which way is she going? What type of vessel is it? Is it towing anything? Is it being towed? Is she working or fishing? Check back in a few moments and you can gather even more information. What's her relative speed? Coming or going? If we hold fast on our current heading, which side will she pass us on? Finally and most important of all: are we on a collision course!?

Whether 1nm or 10nm away, depending on conditions--either is too close. When considering relative tonnage, these babies are floating brick walls. Incidentally, brick walls that also happen to moving up to 15 TIMES faster than us. So, while they are beautiful to look at, there is not a minute to spare in making a decision whether to adjust course or stand on.

Luckily, on this night conditions were practically like daytime in a swimming pool. Flat calm seas, a huge full moon, and just enough clouds to make the scene gorgeous while maintaining 99% visibility ALL made for an absolutely perfect moment to snap a pic. Alas, it's a pic that does the moment NO JUSTICE whatsoever given the power of the phone lens/sensor in this light and its rendering of the moment to an unemphatic, two-dimensional square. No Instagram filter could resuscitate the aliveness that I felt in this moment--so I hope my words help you reconstitute it in your own mind and your own way...

_________________________
April 05, 2023 | 03:11:51

Position: 31.315326° N 76.958718° W
Elevation: -3.28 ft.
Speed: 7.75 kts

In the North Atlantic Ocean, standing solo watch from 3am to 6am right here:
https://goo.gl/maps/Y6fqZkqiEphqJz1y8

Offshore passagemaking. It's as much about the s

Offshore passagemaking.

It's as much about the sailing as it is about the NOT sailing. It's as much about the line on the map as it is the dots at each end. I joked with my friends at @oceanpassages on this trip--"I don't know how you don't spend 7 months at each location you make landfall in!" At the time, I felt I was certainly exaggerating the timeframe, but the more places I stay on either side of a passage, the longer the next one becomes.

Pensive Under Skies Ominous I had just finished a

Pensive Under Skies Ominous

I had just finished a pensive and mind-cleansing walk on the beach near the end of 29-day experience between Tortola, British Virgin Islands and Bocas del Toro, Panama. Sandwiched in those 29-days was a 10-day offshore passage on a Norseman 447 named One World. It was a magnificent journey.

As I looked out into those ominous skies eerily & steadily creeping along their north by northwest route, I couldn't help but think back to just a few days ago when we were out there. It was surreal to be on the beach, firm-footed and sure-minded that I didn't have to do anything to prepare for this inevitable storm, for it would continue along its path without regard for me while I also carry on with my day, far from its playful tumult and unintending danger without a worry in the air.

It was bittersweet.

It was bittersweet to not be out there--in the excitement--immersed in the challenge, adrenaline coursing through my veins, courage in the soul, and hints of evident fear dripping from my trembling hands. Instead, I was safe here. Nothing I did--or moreover, DIDN'T do--would put me or my crew any further into harm's way. I was invincible; an invincible fool only to yearn to be out in it.

I thought, what if I could bottle-up the elements and compounds currently making me feel this way? What if I could bottle that right up and then offer it to those in need when disaster strikes to give them just a hint more courage to face those horrible things? What if I could bottle it right up and even take a sip myself, the next time I am slamming back and forth into the cabin walls, clamoring for my already wet foul weather gear that I would wear on my upcoming watch in this storm; in this feisty ocean storm that I yearned to be in like a fool that day on the beach.

"...the fire that burns against the cold, the ligh

"...the fire that burns against the cold, the light that brings the dawn..."

It was another day that expectedly brought another sunset. In fact, as of this third day of September, 2021, I had lived through 17,625 sunsets. Yet this would still be my first--my first sunset like this.

Like any good sunset experience, this one included good food & drink, accompanied by great friends immersed in conversation that continued long past the sun's disappearance. But when the food was finished and the glasses emptied, we didn't pack up dirty dishes, fold the chairs, & say our goodbyes while walking back to the car. No, not this time.

That evening we would continue south into the Gulf of Maine, sailing into and through the night. I was not only on First Watch, but it was my FIRST watch. As I sat among friends bobbling empty plates and finishing their drinks, my thoughts drifted. Coming in to the trip, I of course knew we would be spending several nights offshore, but this was the first moment I not only knew it, but also FELT it. I felt a pairing of curiosity and excitement, all swimming in bucket of uncertainty, garnished with a dash of fear. This was it! One doesn't just say, "G'night guys!" and head back home.

Then, just as the thought of sailing into the dark night begins to sit comfortably with me, like a sudden arhythmic ocean wave itself, I am reminded that not only am I responsible for keeping this ship in one piece while everyone sleeps, I am also wholly responsible for the well-being those sleeping beauties themselves.

Ack! I have never felt so alive and well in my life.

While each of the crew and finally the captain disappeared down the companionway steps to their slumber, I queued track 27 of the Game of Thrones soundtrack in my head. Thank you for the lullaby that kept me awake, @ramindjawadi_official.

I am the sword in the darkness. I am the watcher on the....deck.

_____________________________
September 3, 2021 | 19:02:19

Position: 43.380829° N 69.520141° W
Elevation: 13.12 ft.
Speed: 4.32 kts

In the Gulf of Maine, sailing into the night of my first First Watch here:
https://bit.ly/3zyvHqx

What a difference a day makes. From 25kts, gustin

What a difference a day makes.

From 25kts, gusting 40 to this absolutely flat calm sea the next day, we certainly made the right choice to stay put for the night while the remnants of Hurricane Ida blew by. Well, somewhere between 40 knot gusts and doldrums would have been nice, but no matter what the weather, conditions aboard s/v Ultima are always bright & fabulous!

This is roughly 4nm due south of Monhegan Island, ME.

Right here:
https://goo.gl/maps/eQADNDSUYuFXds9n9

______________________________
September 3, 2021 | 14:42:28

Position: 43.704136° N 69.320388° W
Elevation: 19.69 ft.
Speed: 5.53 kts

Sit -n- spin. I had the pleasure of joining Natha

Sit -n- spin.

I had the pleasure of joining Nathan & Vivian, the captains of S/V Ultima for my first significant offshore passage earlier this year. Prior to this passage, the longest distance I'd covered on a single trip was roughly 77 nautical miles, over 3 days. This trip, from Rockland, Maine to Solomons, Maryland via the Cape Cod Canal and the C&D Canal, would see no less than 700 nautical miles and an estimated 10 days. In fact, according to my new and quite handy Garmin InReach, we covered 727.68 nm while skipping along the North Atlantic and into the Upper Chesapeake in just 9 days.

Given the 10x jump in the scope of this new venture, I expected to tick a lot of "firsts" milestone checkboxes, and we certainly got right to it! The first thing I learned about leaving on an offshore passage was how to not leave on an offshore passage.

...but seriously, it was, and it is most likely in the top 10 of most important things to know as a captain--especially a new one like me--and that is: it's ok to say, "nah. not today." There are no absolute numbers (wind speed, wave height, etc.) that are "dangerous," rather there is a complex interaction of these variables and your captain and crew's level of experience. So, to preserve the safety of your crew, your vessel, and others nearby, you take into account both the conditions and the experience of the crew to make the call.

With 24 kts blowing steady on the docks where we were securely tied, and 35-40 blowing steady where we were headed, our captains--who are MORE than qualified to sail these conditions like it was a calm day in a mud puddle for me--put our safety and comfort first by deciding to ride out the passing remnants of Hurricane Ida on the dock that night.

It was calm as we went to bed, but forecast to pick up during the night. The rain and wind descended upon our tightly tied floating hotel on schedule and certainly bumped me wide awake. I lay there and enjoyed the ride for a bit, feeling confident in the captains I had just met the day before, but after a while, I must admit, I definitely got up to peer out the port light to make sure we weren't underway.

We were not. But we would be soon.

This past Sunday was opening day for the Fall Seri

This past Sunday was opening day for the Fall Series at Tempe Town Lake.
The wind was great and put about eight boats on their sides throughout the day!
I got a little busy sailing, and didn't get any photos. We did manage to keep the centerboard in the water and the mast on the top side of the lake though, heh heh, so it was a good day.

I'm sure Race Committee and others got some good photos so I'll post those later. Until then, enjoy the shot of this li'l feller I snapped at the end of the day. :)

Daydreaming back to what seems like years ago but

Daydreaming back to what seems like years ago but was only two months!

This is a view that never gets old, looking aft on a mooring at Catalina Island. In just a few moments after this I would begin preparing some delightful salmon to be grilled up on the Magma grill hanging off the starboard sternrail.
In usual fashion, an hour later I would still be puttering about making a sauce/marinade. By the time the filets hit the grill, it was dark....almost as dark as the stares and glares I was beginning to get from hungry crew mates, haha!

Sail fast. Cook slow. ....but make an appetizer first!

Well, in all these years of using Instagram, I've

Well, in all these years of using Instagram, I've never posted a video! I'm so old!!! So I thought, what better "first video post" than some aerial footage of sailing!
Enjoy this quick fly-over from the talented, @sethgandrud, as he practices shooting a subject (me!) with his new drone.

Incidentally, Seth is piloting a Phantom drone, while I am skippering my Phantom sailboat. Do you think we should win double-word score for the day?

This was just last month but feels like a year ago

This was just last month but feels like a year ago! Late night preparations and re-preparations for a certification run to Catalina Island. Result: ASA 104 Certified! Big thanks to you, @captainlizclark for holding down the southwest corner of NOAA Chart 18746 for me!! (Incidentally, you were also there for ASA-101 and ASA-103 :) )

Motoring along till we find some breeze, so I took

Motoring along till we find some breeze, so I took a little rest on the foredeck while all the canvas was furled up. It all came out real quick less than an hour later when we found a steady 17-knot westerly. We held about 8.9 knots speed-over-ground the rest of the way home!

I may see one thousand more sunsets, but only this

I may see one thousand more sunsets, but only this one is promised... This is our view looking aft (back towards California) on a mooring in Two Harbors on Catalina Island. Moments like this make ya feel so magnificent and so insignificant all at the same time. Schrödinger's Sunset!

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